System and method for providing service license aggregation across multiple physical and virtual sim cards

Abstract

A system, a computer program product and a method associate service licenses with a wireless device. A device identifier (device ID) which identifies the wireless device and a Subscriber Identity Module identifier (SIM ID) identifying a SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device are received. If the SIM ID is not currently associated with the device ID, a listing of service licenses associated with the SIM ID is aggregated with a listing of service licenses associated with the device ID. The wireless device is authorized to use service licenses listed in the aggregate listing of service licenses. A virtual SIM identifier may be associated with the SIM identifier and at least one additional service license. The at least one additional service license associated with the virtual SIM identifier may be stored in a database as a subscriber service profile.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of associating service licenses with a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving a first device identifier identifying the wireless device and a physical Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) identifier identifying a physical SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device; 
 determining whether the physical SIM identifier is currently associated with a device identifier; 
 in response to determining the physical SIM identifier is not currently associated with the first device identifier:
 aggregating a listing of service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier with a listing of service licenses associated with the first device identifier to create an aggregate listing of service licenses; and 
 associating the first device identifier with the aggregate listing of service licenses; 
 
 in response to determining the physical SIM identifier is currently associated with a second device identifier associated with a second wireless device:
 dissociating the physical SIM identifier from the second device identifier; and 
 removing service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier from a listing of services associated with the second device identifier; and 
 
 updating the aggregate listing of service licenses to authorize the wireless device use services associated with the first device identifier. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing of services associated with the device identifier further includes at least one virtual SIM identifier currently associated with the device identifier. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating at least one virtual SIM identifier with the physical SIM identifier identifying the SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the device identifier and the physical SIM identifier identifying a SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device in response to receiving a request for activation. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the device identifier and the physical SIM identifier identifying a SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device in response to receiving a request to use a license for a particular service. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining that the wireless device does not have sufficient licenses to fulfill the request to use the license; and 
 granting access to the service via a pool of unassociated licenses obtained from an enterprise license manager. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the access is granted for a temporary grace period. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the device identifier and the physical SIM identifier identifying a SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device in response to determining a SIM swap. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the aggregate listing of service licenses to the service provider is repeated at periodic intervals. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the aggregate listing of service licenses to the service provider is performed responsive to a request from the service provider. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregate listing of service licenses is included in a Subscriber Service Profile (SSP). 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising authorizing the wireless device to use service licenses listed in the aggregate listing of services. 
     
     
       13. A system for associating service licenses with a wireless device comprising:
 a database storing a listing of services including service licenses and SIM identifiers aggregated from multiple SIM cards previously inserted in the wireless device and currently associated with the wireless device, the aggregate listing of services including service licenses and SIM identifiers aggregated from multiple SIM cards previously inserted in the wireless device and currently associated with the wireless device wherein at least one of the SIM identifiers is associated with a first network; 
 a receiver that:
 receives a first device identifier identifying the wireless device and a physical Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) identifier identifying a physical SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device; and 
 
 a processor, communicatively coupled with the receiver and the database, the processor configurable to:
 determine whether the physical SIM identifier is currently associated with a device identifier; 
 
 in response to a determination that the physical SIM identifier is not currently associated with the first device identifier:
 aggregate a listing of service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier with a listing of service licenses associated with the first device identifier to create an aggregate listing of service licenses; and 
 associate the first device identifier with the aggregate listing of service licenses; 
 
 in response to a determination that the physical SIM identifier is currently associated with a second device identifier associated with a second wireless device:
 dissociate the physical SIM identifier from the second device identifier; and 
 remove service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier from a listing of services associated with the second device identifier; and 
 
 update the aggregate listing of service licenses to authorize the wireless device use services associated with the first device identifier. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the listing of services associated with the device identifier further includes at least one virtual SIM identifier currently associated with the device identifier. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configurable to associate at least one virtual SIM identifier with the physical SIM identifier identifying the SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiver obtains the device identifier and the physical SIM identifier identifying a SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device in response to receiving a request to use a license for a particular service. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configurable to:
 determine that the wireless device does not have sufficient licenses to fulfill the request to use the license; and 
 grant access to the service via a pool of unassociated licenses obtained from an enterprise license manager. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sending the aggregate listing of service licenses to the service provider is repeated at periodic intervals. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the aggregate listing of service licenses is included in a Subscriber Service Profile (SSP). 
     
     
       20. A computer program product for associating service licenses with a wireless device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to:
 receive a first device identifier identifying the wireless device and a physical Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) identifier identifying a physical SIM card currently inserted in the wireless device; 
 determine whether the physical SIM identifier is currently associated a device identifier; 
 in response to a determination that the physical SIM identifier is not currently associated with the first device identifier:
 aggregate a listing of service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier with a listing of service licenses associated with the first device identifier to create an aggregate listing of service licenses; and 
 associate the first device identifier with the aggregate listing of service licenses; 
 
 in response to a determination that the physical SIM identifier is currently associated with a second device identifier associated with a second wireless device:
 dissociate the physical SIM identifier from the second device identifier; and 
 remove service licenses associated with the physical SIM identifier from a listing of services associated with the second device identifier; and 
 
 update the aggregate listing of service licenses to authorize the wireless device use services associated with the first device identifier.